Parksons adds another KBA Rapida 106 at Daman plant

Parksons Packaging’s chairman Ramesh Kejriwal inaugurated a brand new KBA Rapida 106 press at its Daman plant on 11 July 2018.

16 Jul 2018 | By Rushikesh Aravkar

The seven-colour plus coater press is Parksons’ fifth six-colour plus configuration press at the plant in the last eight years. It is Parksons’ tenth KBA press and the third one at the Daman plant.

Speaking to PrintWeek India, Kejriwal said, “This is a highly configured machine. The two features which are unique to this press configuration are SPC (simultaneous plate change) and Qualitronic ColorControl (QCC) system with a camera for online colour density and LAB correction. This is the first machine in India to have the two features.”

The new 740x1060mm format size press boasts of a maximum speed of 18,000 sheets per hour and can print both conventional as well as UV inks. It has three interdeck UV dryers and three end-of-the-press UV dryers.

Aditya Surana, managing director, Indo Polygraph Machinery, which represents Koenig & Bauer, formerly KBA, in India, said, “Although this is the tenth long KBA press at Parksons Group, by far it is the highest in configuration and one of its kind in India. With SPC, plate change on all seven units can be completed in just 38 seconds. 

“Several other features include SIS (sidelay-free printing) and the capability of disengaging the unused printing units. All these features make this press one of the highest configured presses installed in India.”

Talking about the investment strategy, Kejriwal said, “The way technology is upgrading itself, if one continues to run the machines which are more than seven to ten years old, one will have the disadvantage of productivity plus, the high cost of spares. We will not be able to keep pace with the quality checks which the newer machines offer.”
 
“So our strategy is not to use the machines which are over ten years old. We have seen a lot of advantages in terms of high-productivity, lower wastages, better quality,” concluded Kejriwal.

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